By Khalida Sarwari
Visitors to Montalvo might notice crews at work on the western façade of the Villa over the next few months. Their goal is to restore 15th-century Spanish doors to the condition in which Sen. James Phelan, the mansion’s original owner, purchased them more than 100 years ago.
The improvements are part of the Villa doors and lanterns restoration project and include the exterior rehabilitation of the Villa doors and two iron lanterns. The work is scheduled to begin in late summer or early fall and wrap up within two months, according to Montalvo spokeswoman Leah Ammon. She noted that visitors would not be impacted during this time.
The doors and lanterns are original elements of the Villa’s design and date back to when it was built in 1912 by Phelan, a former mayor of San Francisco and a U.S. senator. Phelan bought the doors, which are decorated with heraldic devices depicting conquistadors, poets, clerics and royalty from the period, including Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, during his travels in Granada, Spain. At the time, the doors were used as the grand entrance to the Villa, but over time they became dilapidated and had to be covered with a thick curtain and only used on a limited basis, Ammon said.
“The lanterns have not been functional for more than a decade, and the Spanish doors have been hidden behind the curtain for nearly as long,” she said.
In March, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved about $22,000 in funding for the project based on a recommendation by the county’s Historical Heritage Commission. Montalvo applied for the grant in October, said Ammon.
“The HHC grant will allow us to gently restore the doors–fixing stains, sap leakage and cleaning the rust from the exterior hardware–and treat them with sealant to prevent further sun damage,” said Ammon. “Once complete, it will once again be safe to use them as the main entrance point for the Villa, and have them on permanent view to visitors.”
The project includes the refurbishing and reinstallation of two lanterns. This will entail the removal of some rust and corrosion and reinstallation of the wiring so that they, too, will be functional.
In November, Montalvo will undertake a large-scale property development project that will involve the reconfiguration of the gardens and parking lot along the west side of the Villa. Funded through private donations, the project aims to improve accessibility, usability and traffic flow, according to Ammon.
“The new orientation of the grounds will emphasize the doors as a focal point of the Villa’s exterior, and make it even more convenient for guests to access them,” Ammon said.
